High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is associated with the presence of coronary artery calcium in subjects with normal blood pressure but not in subjects with hypertension.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

An association has been described between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in some studies but not in others. This finding may be explained by a differential impact of inflammation according to the absence or presence of certain co-existing risk factors. Because hypertension may be an effect modifier of inflammation on CVD, our aim was to investigate the relationship between hs-CRP and pre-clinical atherosclerosis in subjects with normal blood pressure and hypertension.

METHODS:

Data were analyzed from 14,584 Korean subjects. Subjects were stratified according to: a) 6030 (41.3%) patients with normal blood pressure (<120/80 mmHg), b) 5630 (38.6%) patients with pre-hypertension (120-139 mmHg and 80-89 mmHg) and c) 2924 (20.0%) patients with hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg). Prevalence and odds ratio for the association between increased hs-CRP (>2 mg/L) and presence of CAC (coronary artery calcium) were calculated.

RESULTS:

In both normal and pre-hypertensive groups, the prevalence of CAC >0 was higher in subjects with increased hs-CRP concentrations (>2 mg/L). Adjusting for age, sex, cerebrovascular accident, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus, lifestyle, obesity, fasting glucose, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, there was a significant association between higher hs-CRP levels (>2 mg/L) and CAC score in the normal group (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.11-2.16; p = 0.010); a borderline significant association in the pre-hypertensive group (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.99-1.76; p = 0.054); and no association in the hypertensive group (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.76-1.33; p = 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS:

Higher hs-CRP levels (>2 mg/L) are associated with pre-clinical atherosclerosis in subjects with normal blood pressure but not hypertension.

• Authors: Joo-Wook Sung, Sung Ho Lee, Christopher D Byrne, Pil-Wook Chung, Yu Sam Won, Ki-Chul Sung
• Journal: Archives of medical research (Arch Med Res) Vol. 45 Issue 2 Pg. 170-6 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1873-5487 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24508289 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• C-Reactive Protein
• Calcium

Topics

• Atherosclerosis (metabolism)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Blood Pressure
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Coronary Vessels (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertension (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Risk Factors